It was a quiet night outside Bethlehem when the silence was shattered by angel song. Good news for all! A baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger–a Savior; Christ the Lord! First one, then a whole choir of angels singing:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).
Peace. We want it. We crave it. But it can be hard to come by. Peace is a rare commodity in a world gone wrong. Maybe we have trouble finding peace because we’re looking for the wrong thing. Peace is more than just the absence of conflict or a sense of inner serenity. In the Bible, peace is undergirded by the Hebrew idea of shalom. Peace–real peace–is the blessedness and wholeness of living in right relationship with God.
That’s the kind of peace Jesus brings.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
We can’t have the peace of God until we have peace with God. And that’s exactly what Jesus gave us.
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:13-17).
“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10).
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
We have peace with God because Jesus became our peace. His death reconciled us to God. Once enemies of God, we are now children of the King. Jesus brought us from death to life, from darkness to light, from sin to righteousness, from alienation into God’s own household. We now have peace in the real sense of the word, living as those blessed by and belonging to the merciful Father who bought us for his own.
This Advent, let us proclaim Jesus as our Prince of Peace.
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7 comments
Beautiful!
that’s so true – true peace starts with Him
Thank you so much for sharing what you are studying for Advent. We are also doing an Advent Calendar and I am so thankful for the Prince of Peace!! Praise you Lord!
I love Advent–celebrating that he has come; anticipating that he will come. Love this time of year.
Leigh, Powerful post. When I learned what Grace and Peace meant I began opening my letters and emails with it. As you know, Paul the Apostle opens almost every letter with Grace and Peace. I look forward to the day of true grace and peace with Jesus.
Me too, Cherrilynn, me too.
Thanks so much for the reminder of where true peace is found. Great post!
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